"I was tired of the media asking questions about it," Boesch said. "Every time we'd go on the road [in the Minors], people were coming up and asking me about it. It became more of a distraction to me."

Boesch just wants to focus on playing, and not answering questions on the significance of a number to which he never had a real attachment. The 29-year-old was batting .326/.380/.625 in the Pacific Coast League, with 22 homers and 75 RBIs, and now he has a chance to earn a lot of playing time for an Angels team in desperate need of an offensive spark.

"I think experience teaches you not to look too far ahead," Boesch said. "I'm kind of robotic that way. I'm kind of like a positive robot. It's all good. One day at a time."

Boesch's new number may not be as outlandish as 00, but it's interesting nonetheless.

No. 28 used to belong to Raul Ibanez, the Angels' first designated hitter this season. Since then, the likes of C.J. Cron, Grant Green and Efren Navarro have come through what has turned into the one revolving door in the Angels' lineup. And Boesch is hoping to stick.

"Oh, now I definitely like it," Boesch said when told Ibanez wore 28 earlier this year. "He was, to me, a brief teammate but also one of the best. That's great. I didn't even realize that. I'll wear 28 proud."